MICROLAB

Chapter’s 5-7

(Olguin, 2005)

The following case scenarios are for person use only; do not turn-in this activity

CASE 1

Ronnie is a 45-year old Hispanic male who is seeking a career change. He has been a hair stylist for 20 years, owns his own shop, and is now ready for a change in life. He is unsure of which to direction to go. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself to the 7-Step Decision-Making process (p. 148) to assess and help Ronnie with the needed understandings of self and career information. Identify where Ronnie currently is in the decision-making process. Once you identify where he is in the decision-making process, you must choose two assessments for Ronnie (1 Formal & 1 Informal assessment, pp. 159 and 162) and explain why you choose the particular assessments. Based on “Selection of Instruments” on page 173, which bullet points did you use when selecting the assessments for Ronnie? What are the assessments used for? How will the assessments help Ronnie?

Describe Ronnie and the 7-Step Decision-Making process to the class. Also, explain the chosen assessments and why they were chosen (also, what assessment considerations must be taken by career counselors?) in addition to where you see where Ronnie is at within the 7-Step process.

CASE 2

The World-of-Work Map (refer to page 193) used Holland’s 6 personality types as the 6 groups of occupations; the map consists of 26 career areas/families. During the intake interview, John presented a profile that included the following: He has been a mechanic, gas station attendant, and now for the past two years, a Chemistry tutor in a college tutoring center. His father and brother are both mechanics at the family-run shop; the same shop where he was trained. He will be graduating in two semesters and knows that he wants a career in the Chemistry, but is not sure if he wants to be doing the physical work of a chemist. John mentioned personal traits such as: analytical, abstract, rational, critical, intellectual, introverted, sensitive to the needs of others, friendly, outgoing, persuasive, tactful, creative, nonconforming, and artistic. Based on his traits, how does John relate to primary work tasks (People, Date, Things, or Ideas)? Based on the primary work tasks, describe where John would fall in the map and discuss how you came to the conclusion where John fits on the map. What future career interventions would you have John pursue?

Describe your case (client name, traits and reason for seeking career counseling) and explain the World-of-Work Map to the class. Tell the class-as-a-whole how your group used the map to help Chris explore his career decision/planning process. Also, describe how the map ca/cannot be useful for any client.

CASE 3

The case scenario on page 196 describes a high school junior named Chris. Read the scenario and discuss the “suggested” career planning steps. On pages 179-180, decide which Barriers to Decision Styles can be used to describe Chris. What additional data do you believe is needed (p. 181) in order to get a clear picture of what Chris needs? What is the relationship between data and decision-making? What are your thoughts regarding the author’s suggestions on pages 198-199?

To the class-as-a-whole, describe the case and any Barriers and Decision Styles that Chris may be facing at this time. Describe what data Chris needs to make an effective and knowledgeable career decision; and, explain the “suggestion” process presented by the authors and what you all would have done differently.

CASE 4

Technology/Computer-Assisted Systems

What are the Strengthens of “Computer Capabilities” (p. 206)? According to the author’s and yourselves what are advantages/disadvantages of the internet as a tool? What issues exist because of cybercounseling (p. 218)? What are your thoughts about the integration of cybercounseling and career counseling? How important are computer-assisted systems in elementary and secondary schools, private companies, universities, as consultants, etc?

Describe to the class your case and what you all individually and as a group discussed in regards to the internet and computers as tools for career counseling. Each of you can present a question from above and share the responses to the class-as-a-whole.